Interview with Rui Lucas of Prior Lucas in Bairrada, Portugal. It's a region heavily influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, and therefore cooler and wetter than other areas further inland. Baga is the main variety, well-suited to the humid climate,

Culture Wine Co & Peter Andrews: South Africa

Feb 13th, 2024 45m 28s

Interview with Peter Andrews of Culture Wine Co, who's importing South African wine into California. Topics covered include Pinotage; Mediterranean varieties; Sauvignon Blanc; the regionality of South Africa; innovative winemakers; racial diver

Michigan

Dec 12th, 2023 43m 2s

The Michigan wine scene is relatively new, growing in the last few years. I speak to Drew Perry of Simpson Family Estates, who started in 1980—dicsussing the growing conditions, the grape varieties, and the wines of the emerging industry.

Gamay

Nov 9th, 2023 19m 41s

Gamay: a high-yielding variety associated with youthful, fruity wine but which, in the right growing conditions, makes wonderful, structured wines. This episode explores the areas where Gamay is grown: Beaujolais of course as well as Loire, Sav

Armenia: Interview with Vahe Keushguerian

Oct 24th, 2023 39m 8s

Winemaking in Armenia goes back at least 6,000 years, one of the starting points of viticulture. But it's only in the last ten to fifteen years that there has been a renaissance in quality wine. Vahe Keushguerian has been at the forefront of th

Brazil: Interview with Flavio Pizzato

Sep 17th, 2023 47m 2s

Brazil's wine industry has gone through many changes since the 1990s, and is still finding its feet. The focus on quality wine began with sparkling wine, with investment from French producers, and has continued with a focus on grape varieties s

Brash Higgins: McLaren Vale

Sep 10th, 2023 50m 52s

Brad Hickey has been making wine in McLaren Vale for over fifteen years, in a range of styles that reflect the Mediterranean climate of the region. This episode focuses on his experiences in McLaren Vale, and the wines being made there. A great

Champagne Interview with Garth Hodgdon of Cage Imports

Sep 3rd, 2023 46m 11s

A conversation with Garth Hodgdon of Cage Imports, which imports 15 small Champagne producers into the USA. We talk about trends in Champagne, how to discover those small producers (and who they are), who's drinking champagne, and why Meunier r

Mexico

Aug 27th, 2023 50m 39s

Plantings in Mexico date back to the 1520s, although the development of the wine industry was curtailed by Spanish colonial intervention. Since the 1980s, there has been a renaissance for Mexican wine, with many regions emerging. In this episod

Georgia

Aug 20th, 2023 54m 38s

Georgia is one of the world's oldest winemaking countries. Traditions—such as amber wine and wine made for home consumption—continue, which make Georgian wine a wonderful trip to the past. But it's also an evolving wine country, with regions pr

Emeritus Vineyards - Dry Farming in Sonoma County

Aug 12th, 2023 31m 27s

Interview with Mari Jones of Emeritus Vineyards in Sonoma County, who began the conversion to dry farming in 2008. In tandem with the selection of suitable clones and rootstocks, the vineyards are now well-established without the need for irrig

Long Island

Aug 8th, 2023 52m 47s

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Long Island has unique growing conditions heavily influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. I interview three producers: Jenny Smith from Pellegrini (on the North Fork), Roman Roth of Wölffer Estate (in The Hamptons),

Albania

Aug 4th, 2023 9m 26s

Wine has been made in Albania for thousands of years, and grape-growing used to be central to its culture before rule by the Ottoman Empire and then an isolated communist regime led to a centuries long decline in wine production. It's still a p

Montenegro and Kosovo

Aug 1st, 2023 14m 27s

Two neighbouring countries, formerly of Yugoslavia. Kosovo's winemaking history goes back 2,000 years, with a renewed focus on quality after the bulk wines under Yugoslavia. Montenegro has one of the largest vineyards in Europe, with research i

North Macedonia

Jul 30th, 2023 12m 58s

The small, landlocked country of North Macedonia has a long winemaking history. The source of much of the former Yugoslavia's bulk wine, there is a renewed focus on quality in identifying the best sites. This episode prevents an overview of the

Serbia

Jul 26th, 2023 11m 22s

Episode number four on the wines of the former Yugoslavian countries. Serbia's climate is continental, influenced by the river Danube and by mountains. There are some international varieties planted, but also indigenous varieties and some local

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Jul 16th, 2023 17m 25s

Part 3 of series on the wines of the Balkan States and former Yugoslavia: Bosnia-Herzegovina. A small wine industry, with just 3,500ha of plantings but 11,000 growers. The main regions are around Mostar between the Adriatic Sea and high central

Croatia

Jun 29th, 2023 23m 26s

Episode 2 of my series on Balkan wine: Croatia. A beautiful country which attracts two and a half times as many tourists as residents, the wine regions can be divided into coastal and continental inland. There are some similarities with nearby

Slovenia

Jun 4th, 2023 18m 47s

First episode on the wines of the Balkan States, starting with Slovenia, a country with lots of connections with neighbouring regions of Friuli in north-east Italy and Steirmark in southern Austria. The climate changes from Mediterranean on th

Portuguese Grape Varieties

Apr 6th, 2023 22m 15s

250 indigenous varieties plus a handful of international; different names for the same variety, named after animals, people, and often hard to pronounce; field blends in a small, fractured vineyard ownership; maritime and continental climates:

Austrian Grape Varieties

Mar 20th, 2023 25m 43s

This episode explores some of the 40 grape varieties approved in Austria, including the classics such as Grüner Veltliner, Blaufränkisch, St. Laurent, and Zweigelt, lesser-known but historic varieties such as Welschriesling and Rotgipfler, and

Scarce and Wild Italian Grape Varieties

Mar 12th, 2023 33m 46s

Conversation with Sheila Donohue of Vero Vino, who specialise in importing "scarce and wild" Italian grape varieties. We discuss four lesser known—or completely unknown—varieties local to their regions : Schioppetino, Boschera, Famoso, and Dure

The Identity of Cava

Feb 23rd, 2023 52m 36s

Interview with three Cava producers on its identity and what makes the sparkling wine different from others: place, grape varieties, ageing, and its history. Cava has introduced labelling terms and regional designations which allow producers to

Trip to Australia

Feb 13th, 2023 22m 48s

Just back from a two-week trip to Australia where I visited the wine regions of Tasmania, Adelaide Hills, and McLaren Vale. The former two are relatively young with lots of development over the last three decades; they're also cool climate with

Old World v New World

Jan 8th, 2023 21m 55s

What's the difference between an Old and a New World Wine? Is there a differerence? This episode explores what the terms mean, whether we should use them, and how they can be an easy way into describing the wines of a prominent country? What th